Businesses thrive because of people. That means assembling a great team that is dedicated to your vision is essential to growing a strong small business. And, you can only build a great team if you’re able to find the right people!

Finding fitting candidates and attracting them to your business can be tricky. The job market is saturated which makes it difficult to get your job listing in front of the right people. While it takes some forethought and planning, a thoughtful strategy will help you draw in candidates who will be great additions to your team.

Who is The Right Person for Your Role or Company?

If you’re going to find the right people to join your team, you need to have a good understanding of what makes up the “right person.” Are they passionate about your mission? Do they get along with your current staff members? Think through the traits of people you’d like on your team, or specifically the traits of the right person for a specific open position. Another way of looking at this is defining the type of employee that would not fit into your team.

To aim for the best cultural fit, ask your team for insight. It is especially important to seek out the opinion of the existing team members who will be working most closely with the new candidate. Consider the traits your team thinks would make a good addition and understand why. Since they are in the trenches of your business operations, they might have a beneficial perspective.

Cater Your Job Offering To the Right Candidate

Now that you have a better understanding of the right candidate, think through what that candidate would want out of a new position. Consider your open position from the perspective of your ideal candidate to create an offering that truly matches someone ideal for your company. The advantages for the candidate include how the position would advance their career and what professional development opportunities they may appreciate.

Especially if you’re a newer business making your first hires, thinking through your ideal team or ideal candidates might also help you shape your company culture. Create an environment that would be comfortable and rewarding for the type of candidates you hope to attract. For example, if you want self-motivated, creative employees, you might strive for a culture open to autonomy and new ideas.

Write a Memorable Job Posting

Most candidates will find out about your company or open position through a job posting. Unless they are already familiar with your company or brand, this is your first opportunity to impress them. Attract their attention with a welcoming tone. Quickly share what you’re looking for in a candidate and the advantage of working for your company. Try to avoid an overly long description and a long list of job duties that might allow a candidate to lose interest. Stay high level at this point to more easily grab attention.

Your posting should not only communicate the scope of the position and the benefits to potential candidates, but it should also capture the company culture. Candidates want to know what their work environment will be like so they can determine if they will be a good fit. Let your brand personality shine!

Be Creative With Where You Look

In today’s market, job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed are so saturated that it can be difficult to get your posting in front of the right people. While you should definitely use these resources, also consider other ways you can find that ideal candidate.

Depend on your network for recommendations. Make sure everyone you know, especially those in your industry, is aware that you’re hiring. Also, make sure to share with existing employees when a new opening is posted. The people who know your company will already have a great idea of who might fit in at your company, so you might get a great referral right away.

Keep An Open Mind

While it’s important to have an idea of the ideal candidate, make sure to stay open in your process. You might be surprised by the value someone who doesn’t exactly tick all your boxes might bring to your business. Keep your eyes open and always consider whether a candidate will fit in with your company culture. Make sure that the fit goes both ways.

NOT SURE WHERE TO START?

If hiring a great team sounds intimidating, it might be a good idea to start with a Virtual Assistant first. As an alternative to the investment needed to hire a full-time employee, a Virtual Assistant can fill in and help complete tasks at a lower cost. VAs also have a shorter onboarding time, and you see results fast.

Learn how a VA can benefit your small business.